Against Arizona, Cal intends play to mirror drills

Updated 11:14 pm, Friday, November 1, 2013

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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Sonny Dykes

Sonny Dykes

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Against Arizona, Cal intends play to mirror drills

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If you go back and listen to the dozens of post-practice interviews head coach Sonny Dykes has done this season, you will notice a recurring theme: Cal sure seems to be a great football team from Sunday to Friday each week.

Unfortunately for the Bears (1-7, 0-5 Pac-12), their games have been played on Saturdays.

Arizona (5-2, 2-2) is Cal's next test, and with another formidable conference opponent on deck, Dykes hopes his team is ready to play Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.

"This team has practiced well," he said Thursday. "We'll see if we can get any kind of carryover. When we practice well, we get better because we keep building on where we're going, but it hasn't showed up on Saturdays."

Since training camp in August, Dykes has consistently been pleased with his team's effort in practices. But positive results have yet to show up when it matters most.

According to the head coach, there is a reason for this lack of correlation.

"A lot of it is just youth," he said. "Inexperience is a big deal in football. When you're young, especially in the first year of a system, you're not particularly good with situations."

The Bears are expected to start 14 freshmen and sophomores Saturday, and just two of their 22 starters are seniors. On the Wildcats' latest depth chart, there are five underclassmen and nine seniors in the starting lineup.

Senior dual-threat quarterback B.J. Denker and junior running back Ka'Deem Carey lead Arizona, combining for 227.4 rushing yards per game this season. Of the Wildcats' 11 starters on defense, 10 are upperclassmen.

Cal has lost six straight games by an average margin of 27 points, and the Bears are 16-point underdogs Saturday. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, players have maintained a positive outlook.

"Everybody is frustrated, disappointed," Dykes said. "But at the same time, I think everybody sees a reason to keep working and keep grinding."

For Jared Goff, there is plenty of optimism. To ease the pain of the disappointing season, the freshman quarterback admittedly has caught himself thinking with other underclassmen about the success Cal could have down the road.

But Goff said he and the others immediately refocus their thoughts whenever they start discussing the future.

"Right now, we're just trying to beat Arizona," he said. "We try not to think too far ahead. We really can't afford to do that."

With last week's loss to Washington, Cal was eliminated from bowl contention. With four games remaining, Goff stressed the need to push through the growing pains in order to improve on a weekly basis and send his senior teammates out on a high note.

As for Dykes, he knows his players are optimistic about the future. He just wants it to be sooner rather than later.

Said the head coach: "I hope the future is Saturday."

Cal (1-7, 0-5 Pac-12) vs. Arizona (5-2, 2-2)

Where: Memorial Stadium, Berkeley

When: 12:30 p.m. Saturday

TV: P12BA Radio: 810

Story lines: Cal and Arizona play for the first time since 2010 and renew a series that is tied 14-14-2. After giving up 241 yards to Washington running back Bishop Sankey, the Bears face the Wildcats' Ka'Deem Carey, the nation's leading rusher with 153.3 yards per game. Arizona becomes bowl-eligible with a win, but it is also hoping to be in contention for the Pac-12 South title in head coach Rich Rodriguez's second season. Cal is still looking for its first win over an FBS opponent since Oct. 13, 2012.

What to watch for

Defensive adjustments: Defensive coordinator Andy Buh tinkered with new blitz packages last week, and this will probably continue Saturday against Arizona's unusual spread offense. Cal will also have a personnel adjustment, as Cedric Dozier is expected to make his first career start at cornerback opposite Kam Jackson. Dozier will be the sixth starter at cornerback this season. Linebacker Johnny Ragin, one of the substitutes in the blitz package last weekend, said: "I'm excited to see what the coaches scheme up this week."

Offensive struggles: Although the defense has taken the heat this season, the offense is no longer holding up its end of the bargain. Cal, which ranks 95th in the country with 22.9 points per game, has scored no more than 22 points in a game since amassing at least 30 in each of its first three games. Darren Ervin is expected to start at running back, and an improved run game will be needed against Arizona's 3-3-5 defense, which head coach Sonny Dykes said is designed to stop spread teams.

Special teams and trick plays: Cal could use some momentum-changing plays on special teams. The Bears would benefit greatly from a return touchdown by Khalfani Muhammad or Bryce Treggs, or a blocked punt or a fumble recovery on a kickoff. Cal also needs kicker Vincenzo D'Amato and punter Cole Leininger to continue their solid play. Don't be surprised if the Bears get creative and try to gain an edge on special teams or offense with a trick play.

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